Search

Background: Spontaneous abortion is a common complication of pregnancy that can lead to adverse physical and psychological outcomes for women. Vitamin D is reported to be associated with reproductive functions, whereas its casual effects on abortion remains unclear. Materials and methods: In this study, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to systematically assess the causal relationships between serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration and the risk of spontaneous abortion. GWAS summary data of 25(OH)D were used as exposure, and data of spontaneous abortion was considered as outcome. A retrospective study was additionally conducted to verify the MR results. Results: MR estimates showed that a higher 25(OH)D level was potentially associated with decreased risk of spontaneous abortion (IVW, OR = 0.98, 95%CI = 0.90–1.06; MR Egger, OR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.84–1.05; Weighted median, OR = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.82–1.06; Weighted mode, OR = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.84–1.03), though the P-value was not statistically significant. The retrospective study also produced consistent result of Vitamin D's protective role to spontaneous abortion. The P-value was very close to statistical significance (P = 0.053). Conclusions: This study reports the potential protective role of serum 25(OH)D concentration to spontaneous abortion, suggesting that increased vitamin D levels may decrease the risk of abortion. Further larger prospective studies and/or even randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm causal relationship between vitamin D and abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for hepatic cancer, the majority of HBV carriers do not develop this lethal disease. Additional molecular alterations are thus implicated in the process of liver tumorigenesis. Since phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is decreased in approximately half of liver cancers, we investigated the significance of PTEN deficiency in HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis. Methods: HBV-positive human liver cancer tissues were checked for PTEN expression. Transgenic HBV, Alb-Cre and Ptenfl/fl mice were inter-crossed to generate WT, HBV, Pten−/− and HBV; Pten−/− mice. Immunoblotting, histological analysis and qRT-PCR were used to study these livers. Gp73−/− mice were then mated with HBV; Pten−/− mice to illustrate the role of hepatic tumor biomarker golgi membrane protein 73 (GP73)/ golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) in hepatic oncogenesis. Results: Pten deletion and HBV transgene synergistically aggravated liver injury, inflammation, fibrosis and development of mixed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). GP73 was augmented in HBV; Pten−/− livers. Knockout of GP73 blunted the synergistic effect of deficient Pten and transgenic HBV on liver injury, inflammation, fibrosis and cancer development. Conclusions: This mixed HCC-ICC mouse model mimics liver cancer patients harboring HBV infection and PTEN/AKT signaling pathway alteration. Targeting GP73 is a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer patients with HBV infection and PTEN alteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study, we investigated the effects of alpine meadow in different phenological periods on ruminal fermentation, serum biochemical indices, and gastrointestinal tract microbes in grazing yak on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A total of eighteen female freely grazing yaks with an average age of 3 years old and a body weight of 130 ± 19 kg were selected. According to the plant phenological periods, yaks were randomly allocated to one of three treatments: (1) regreen periods group (RP, n = 6); (2) grassy periods group (GP, n = 6); and (3) hay periods group (HP, n = 6). At the end of the experiment, the blood, rumen fluids, and rectal contents were collected to perform further analysis. Results: The concentrations of total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), acetate, glucose (GLU), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were higher in the GP group than in the HP group (P < 0.05). However, compared with the RP and GP groups, the HP group had higher concentrations of isobutyrate, isovalerate, valerate, and creatinine (CREA) (P < 0.05). The abundance of Prevotella in the rumen, and the abundances of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group, and Prevotellaceae_UCG-004 in the gut were higher in the GP group compared with the HP group (P < 0.05). The HP had higher abundance of Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group in the rumen as well as the abundances of Romboutsia and Arthrobacter in the gut compared with the RP and GP groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results of rumen fermentation, serum biochemical, differential biomarkers, and function prediction, the carbohydrate digestion of grazing yak would be higher with the alpine meadow regreen and grassy due to the gastrointestinal tract microbes. However, the risk of microbe disorders and host inflammation in grazing yak were higher with the alpine meadow wither. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate mindfulness-based intervention for hypertension with depression and/or anxiety., Methods: 10-week mindfulness-based intervention, including health education for hypertension, exclusively for the control group, was administered to the intervention group to assist sixty hypertension patients with depression/anxiety. Among them, the intervention group comprised 8 men and 22 women, with a mean age of 60.02 years and a mean duration of hypertension of 6.29 years. The control group consisted of 14 men and 16 women with a mean age of 57.68 years and a mean duration of hypertension of 6.32 years. The severity of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms was assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), along with blood pressure (BP) measurements taken twice daily. The study utilized a self-made self-efficacy scale and awareness of physical and mental health to evaluate mental health and state., Results: The depression PHQ-9 or GAD-7 scores reduced by 21.1% or 17.8% in the mindfulness-based intervention group, compared to the control (Z = -2.040, P = 0.041) post 10-week period, suggesting significant reduction in anxiety/stress. These results were consistent with a reduction in systolic BP of 12.24 mm Hg (t = 6.041, P = 0.000). The self-efficacy score of the mindfulness intervention group significantly improved compared to the control (t = 7.818, P < 0.001), while the awareness of physical and mental health in the mindfulness intervention group significantly improved compared to the control (χ2 = 5.781, P = 0.016)., Conclusion: Mindfulness-based, short-term focused interventions provide modest relief for depression and/or anxiety and are effective in lowering blood pressure and improving self-efficacy scores., Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900028258. Registered 16 December 2019, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=43627 ., (© 2024. The Author(s).)